Leffingwell Camp Site

Leffingwell Camp Site is a research settlement on Flaxman Island containing remains of early 20th-century structures used for scientific fieldwork. The weathered buildings and scattered artifacts show how researchers maintained operations in one of Earth's most demanding environments.

The site was established in 1906 to study the Arctic coastline and geological features of northern Alaska. Work continued at the camp through the early 1910s, becoming instrumental in mapping this remote and unexplored region.

The site marks an early chapter in systematic Arctic coastal research and the study of extreme polar environments. Visitors can sense how this location served as a working base for understanding the frozen landscape.

The site sits on an isolated island accessible only by special arrangement and requires advance planning with local authorities. Visitors should expect harsh Arctic weather and limited infrastructure when making any expedition to this remote location.

The camp was where groundbreaking permafrost studies revealed how frozen ground remains stable over deep time scales. These early observations became foundational to modern understanding of how climate change affects Arctic landscapes.

Location: North Slope Borough

GPS coordinates: 70.18500,-146.05333

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:40